We work with a very broad range of mental health difficulties. Some of the more common ones are anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, substance use and borderline personality disorder.

Having said that, mental health difficulties often don’t fit neatly into a “diagnostic box”. People struggle with their thoughts, emotions and behaviours in a number of ways, not necessarily due to an underlying disorder. It can be grief that just doesn’t seem to get better, anger issues, bullying at school or work, relationship difficulties and low self-worth. There’s no shortage of challenges that all people confront at some stage in their life, but if you feel like you could do with some extra support or if you’re not seeing the progress that you would like then there’s no need to face it alone.

Psychological therapy has been demonstrated to be highly effective in treating a wide range of mental health difficulties. We can’t provide any guarantee as to the outcome of treatment (results can vary according to a number of different factors), but there are certainly many types of problems for which psychology can provide significant relief or elimination of the problem. In some cases, therapy may be one part of a more comprehensive treatment plan incorporating medication.

Your privacy is of paramount concern to us. Confidential information is only shared in very limited circumstances - a.) if a court ordered the release of information from your file (i.e. your records are subpoenaed) or b.) if you disclose that you are planning to seriously injure yourself or another person, or c.) if you indicated that you were intending on committing a serious crime, or d.) you disclose information relating to possible harm to a minor that is subject to mandatory reporting laws. Release of confidential information is clearly rare, and you can rest easy knowing that except for in these unusual circumstances, anything that you share with us is safe.

As a general rule, we work with people aged 15 and above. Occasionally we may be able to work outside of this range - we are always happy to talk to see if we are in a position to help.

While you do not need a referral, having one can be beneficial, as most Australian citizens and permanent residents referred by a GP have access to 10 Medicare subsidised appointments per year. While there is still some out-of-pocket expense, this means that Medicare will provide a rebate for these ten sessions, helping to cover much of the cost.

We strive to minimise waiting times. If we don’t currently have any available in-person appointments, we are often able to offer telehealth sessions via videoconference without any significant waiting period. Proceeding on this basis will give you priority for when there is availability of in-person appointments.

Simply call the Bella Vista Psychiatry and Wellbeing Clinic on 02 6399 2282 to make an appointment, or email info@bellavistapsychiatry.com.au

The number of sessions varies for each person but is influenced by the nature of the problem and your own needs. As a general rule, most common issues need eight to twelve sessions. For many issues, significant and lasting progress can be achieved in this timeframe, although it should be noted that some people require less or more sessions - everybody is different. An increasing number of people incorporate therapy into their overall wellbeing regimen, seeing their psychologist on a long-term basis in order to maintain their mental health and to help them to maintain optimal performance. We do offer long-term services, but it should be noted that such engagements are not subsidised by Medicare. You can discuss your individual needs with your psychologist.

The first appointment is normally a bit longer than usual and takes up to 90 minutes. The reason for this is that during this session we gather a lot of information in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of your history, the difficulties you’re wanting to address, and your goals. This will help us to determine the most appropriate treatment approach.

Private health insurers vary significantly with respect to the extent of their coverage for psychological services. Please contact your insurer to check your coverage.

We offer the choice of in-person or telehealth appointments. Telehealth is offered via a videoconferencing platform - you simply click on a link in your email at the time of your appointment. Telehealth can be an excellent option when attending in-person is difficult. Some clients opt to alternate between in-person and telehealth appointments.

We generally offer appointments Monday through Saturday, with the exception of public holidays. After-hours appointments are available.